Niutou Temple

Niutou Temple

Niutou temple, an ancient temple of Tang Dynasty, is located on xunyin slope of Shaoling in the southeast of Weiqu Town, Chang'an District, about 12 kilometers away from Xi'an city. It is one of the eight major temples in Fanchuan of Tang Dynasty. Niutou temple was built in the 11th year of Zhenyuan (795) of the Tang Dynasty. It was also built in the 6th year of Zhenguan (632) of the Tang Dynasty. It was renamed Fuchang temple in the Taiping reign of the Song Dynasty (976-983). It has been renamed Niutou temple since the first year of Yuanyou (1086). In 1956, Niutou temple was designated as the first batch of provincial key cultural relics protection units by the state.

Historical evolution

Initial construction

Niutou temple was built in the 11th year of Zhenyuan (795) of the Tang Dynasty. It was also built in the 6th year of Zhenguan (632) of the Tang Dynasty. It was renamed Fuchang temple in the Taiping reign of the Song Dynasty (976-983). It has been renamed Niutou temple since the first year of Yuanyou (1086).

Renovation and reconstruction

In 1526, in memory of the great poet Du Fu of Tang Dynasty, the temple of Du Gongbu was built in the temple, and later moved to the East Temple.

In the Ming Dynasty, Niutou temple, as the incense house of Zhu * (zuomu Youshuang), king of Qin, was naturally repaired and protected. Zhao * (left mountain right letter) tour of the south of the city, said: "temple, to win, such as Hua Yan and solemn over it." Explain the scene of the temple at that time. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot of Wolong Temple, Zen master Dongxia, added the mountain gate, Buddha Hall and left and right veranda.

Since 1997, with the support of Chang'an County Government and all walks of life, master Guolin, who is 92 years old, has raised 5 million yuan to rebuild the millennium old temple, which has been silent for many years. The relics such as the Boloni stone Sutra left behind in the temple have come to light again, and the 2-ton morning bell rings through Fan Chuan.

Scale system

Temple size

At the beginning of liberation, the temple still covers an area of more than 20 mu, with five main halls, five back halls (Dharma halls), three King Kong halls and more than ten monks and nuns.

Landscape features

The temple is located on the xunyin slope of yuanpan, overlooking the peaks of Zhongnan, the green screen, the Fanchuan, the Daoqi vegetable Town, the xitaodiliu, and the beautiful smoky water. In the Tang Dynasty, it was not only a famous Buddhist temple, but also a scenic spot in the south of Chang'an city. The poem "Niutou Temple" written by Sikong Tu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, is: "the best place in Zhongnan is the green sky, the trees are quiet, and the smoke is sparse." The scenery of Niutou temple is elegant and quiet.

architectural style

Temple building magnificent, and xinghuaping, jiulongtan various attractions. Wu Zetian once visited jiulongtan and wrote a poem named "you jiulongtan" by Ji Sheng, which reads: "you can see two phoenixes on the top of the rock, you can see Jiulong in the heart of the pool, you can see bamboo leaves floating in the wine, and you can see Hibiscus on the cup." The elegant scene of her drinking in a beautiful environment is vividly written and fascinating to read. The spring water in jiulongtan is so sweet that it has been taken for thousands of years.

Main scenery

According to Zhang Li's journey to the south of the city, the Dragon hall pagoda of the Tang Dynasty still exists, and there is a stele written by Xu Shilong in the temple (lost in the Ming Dynasty). The pagoda was destroyed in the period of the Republic of China, but the statues of piluzana, Weituo and Kalan in the "Niudong" still exist. There are two stone Scripture buildings in front of the hall. One is the Sutra building established in the sixth year of Ganfu (879) and the other is the Sutra building of aja Tathagata. The first courtyard of the temple is small, but square and solemn. There are several stone tablets in front of the main hall.

In the temple, there is a 5-foot-high octagonal stone pillar, which was erected in 879, the sixth year of Qianfu reign of emperor Xizong of Tang Dynasty. On eight sides of the pillar are engraved with the Sutra translated by Sanzang, which was written by shancigao. There is also the stele of guarding fazangjie, which was erected in 1169, the ninth year of jindading.

In front of the right side of the temple, there is a dragon locust tree of Tang Zhi. It is about Zhang high, withered and decayed, and its branches and branches are winding like a dragon, and its branches and leaves are whirling down to the ground. It is about Zhang high, winding like a dragon, just like an old man standing in the wind. It is said that it was planted in the Tang Dynasty. Up to now, its branches and leaves are still whirling and the ground is covered with green shade.

The spring water in jiulongtan is so sweet that it has been taken for thousands of years. According to the records of the two counties of Chang'an in Xianning, in the 26th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, Eight Allied forces captured Beijing. When Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Xi'an with Emperor Guangxu in her arms, she sent people to take spring water for him to drink every day. There is a sign of "jiulongtan" under the terrace in front of the temple, and there is still a small stream of clear spring flowing downward. At the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty, temples gradually declined.

The whole Niutou temple has lush flowers and trees, dense shade and quiet environment. Temple South peaks, green screen ten thousand Ren, overlooking Fan Chuan, rice and vegetables peach willow, beautiful water. In fact, it is a pilgrimage resort in the south of Xi'an today. Under the platform on the right is the cemetery of General Yang Hucheng, which is adjacent to each other.

Geographic transportation

geographical position

Address: yuanpan, East Shaoling, Weiqu street, Chang'an District, Xi'an (near yanghucheng general cemetery)

Travel Map

As shown in the figure

Take no.4-10, no.4-19

Get off at the south section of Guangchang North Road and walk 225 meters

Address: Fanchuan Road, Shuangzhu village, Chang'an District, Xi'an City (near yanghucheng general cemetery)

Longitude: 108.95497302083

Latitude: 34.145870444098

Ticket information: free.

Chinese PinYin : Niu Tou Si